INTRODUCTION
The past week has seen intermittent light snow that has added to what we already had. Snow is still thin in some areas, but all the groomed centers are in full or nearly full operation, and most of the popular smoother backcountry skis are in good shape. Saturday will be warm with temperatures in the mid-30s and some more snow, but it starts to cool off on Sunday with Monday through Wednesday only seeing highs just approaching 10. Still, no significant new snow, but so far every flake that falls will stay. JACKRABBIT TRAIL The McKenzie Pass Section: Now skiable from Whiteface Inn Lane, with most rocks are fully covered on the hill, and very good cover as one approaches the lean-to. With the new snow, the ski down toward the pond is possible, but caution would still be advised - especially as one approaches the bottom where the snow is not as deep. Enough snow now at McKenzie Pond Road that it's possible to ski right from the road. Very thin at the start under the thick trees and at a few points getting to the road at about the half-way point, but otherwise finally skiable. Old Mountain Road Section: Still a bit thin, but fully skiable. Some lumps on the hills and watch the beaver areas for wet areas. Paul Smiths Section: We now have reports that logging prevents a through ski from the VIC to Lake Clear. The section from the VIC to Rt. 86 has good cover and only a few trees down that can be gotten around or over. South of Rt. 86 it is good skiing for about 1.5 miles to where the logging starts and the skiing ends. Coming up from Lake Clear, the old trolley line under the power lines is skiable until one hits the active logging road. Other sections: No reports on the Craig Wood to Lake Placid Club section, but this section should be skiable, although the steeper hills near the Lake Placid Club could still be a problem. GROOMED CENTERS ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER) https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center/ 518-837-5047 Km Open and Groomed: 15 Track Set: 15 New snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 4-7" Off Track: 12" New Snow last 72 hours: 7" Surface Conditions: Packed powder on hardpack. Remarks: All trails open. SCOTTS COBBLE NORDIC CENTER 10 km of groomed trails on Craig Wood Golf Course - rentals, lessons operated by High Peaks Cyclery. Trail fee of $15/day - $10/half-day. Residents of the Tri-Lakes area ski for free (Donations appreciated) scottscobblenordic.com. 518-523-9811 or 518-523-3742 KM Open and Groomed: 10 Track Set: 10k New snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 4" Off track: 8" New snow past 72 hours: 7" Surface conditions: Packed powder Remarks: MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG: https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/ 518-523-2811 Km Open and Groomed: 50 Track Set: 25 km New snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 3-5" on Legacy trails Off track: 9" New snow past 72 hours: 7" Surface Conditions: Packed powder. Remarks: Set track on most of the Legacy trails on south side (a.k.a. cross-country side). Most trails on the north side (a.k.a. biathlon side) also open but no track set. Porter Mt. Loops reported as open with set track, but in-person reports indicate otherwise. PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER: https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/ 518-327-6241 Km Groomed and Open: 30 km Track Set: 15 New Snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 6-8" Off track: 12" New snow past 72 hours: 8" Surface Conditions: Packed powder. Remarks: Set track on the wider trails where the Pisten-Bully can be used. Other trails open but not necessarily freshly groomed. DEWEY MOUNTAIN: https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter 518-891-2697 Km Open: 5 Track set: none New Snow: 2" Packed Base Depth: 2-3" Off Track: New snow past 72 hours: 5" Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: Lower mountain trails open on thin cover. Upper trails still closed. TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/ 518-359-8370 Km Open: 10 Track set: 10 New Snow: Base Depth: Off track: New snow past 72 hours: Surface Conditions: Packed powder Remarks: The system mostly held a good base. No specifics on snowfall or overall snow depth, but the photos online indicate this remains the best groomed skiing in the area. BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS While not yet true mid-winter conditions, there is more skiing to be had than we've had yet this season, although caution still advised on any hills as not all hazards are 'guaranteed' to be fully covered. Wednesday 1/15, report from Lake Colden says 26" at the cabin. Whiteface Highway: As has been the case for nearly a month, the highway is fully covered, but many sections may be narrow or bare given the high winds. Marcy Dam, Truck Trail: Skiable with most, but not all rocks covered. Meadows Lane now blocked off for the winter. Park on the left to leave room for ranger vehicles with snowmobile trailers in the event of an emergency. Fish Pond Truck Trail: Very skiable all the way to Fish Pond. Lake ice should be safe after the cold weather this past weekend, but slush may be an issue for the alternate return. Hays Brook Truck Trail: Definitely skiable to both the Sheep Meadow and Grass Pond. Parking lot now being plowed, We can hope that continues. Newcomb Lake Road: As usual, the best skiing. Only minor and easily circimventes blowdown on the road to Moose Pond. Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds: Good coverage and some broken track. Initially, North Hudson said they had no intention of plowing any parking at Gulf Brook, but as of Saturday, 1/11, there was still parking for a few cars at the base of the hill. No report whether the plowing has continued with the new snow this week. Parking on the shoulder is legal, just not all that desirable. Additionally, the Ragged Mt. Road parking was also plowed. This is the access to Hoffman Notch. Avalanche Pass: Skiable past Marcy Dam, but still with a few rocks to dodge as far as Avalanche Camp. With all the new snow, the pass is now in good shape. Lake Colden now has 26" of snow. Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable. Caution is always advised near the outlet to Avalanche Lake. If in doubt, take to the trail on the west side about 50 yards before the outlet and cross on the bridge. Ausable Lake Road: With the new snow, now just barely skiable, but the area is still the "donut hole" as far as snowfall, so not the best choice for the weekend. Wright Peak Ski Trail: Skiable after it diverges from the hiking trail, but very rough getting from the point where one joins the hiking trail to where the ski trail diverges. Mt. Marcy Ski Trail: A current report says not really skiable until the ski trail junction above 50-meter bridge and then many blowdowns from there to Indian Falls. Above Indian Falls, plenty of snow, but a snowshoe trench to deal with.
10 Comments
Tony
1/17/2025 04:35:48 pm
Look up, that's the latest condition report for the Lake Road.
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James Neu
1/17/2025 02:57:20 pm
Attempted Marcy today. Very rough between Damn and Ski trail, not skiable. Ski trail needs more snow and there is lots of blowdown making progress very slow, don’t recommend it.
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Tony
1/17/2025 05:41:33 pm
Not surprised at the conditions up to the ski trail split. Thanks for the info on the blowdown.
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Steve (:{)
1/17/2025 06:39:05 pm
1/17/25 - XC Newcomb Road to Moose Pond.
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Ann
1/19/2025 04:18:59 pm
Trail south of 86 (Paul Smiths section) is blocked at about 1.1 mi in by logging. No obvious way through or around that we could find.
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Glenn (for Paul)
1/19/2025 06:06:03 pm
JRT Paul Smiths Update: I skied with hand saw from Osgood Pond launch to VIC on 1/13. Most of the college trails have been snowshoed and skiing is good, but still a bit thin under the Hemlocks. There is one blowdown on the hill above the Church Pond lean-to that was easy an stepover (left for chainsaw). I also did the section between White Pine Camp and Jones Pond Rds. Also 1 blowdown on ridge west of the steep hill near Jones Pond Rd. I cut branches to make it easier to step over.
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Erik De Pol
1/22/2025 05:05:22 pm
Connery Pond- A few avoidable rocks on both sides of the initial hill but otherwise decent coverage out to Whiteface Landing.
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Steve (:{)
1/23/2025 04:40:22 pm
Newcomb Lake Rd to Santinoni Camp conditions are good . Some tracks back after last weekends event. Solid coverage throughout, hills are faster now that everything has been packed down.
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Andrew
1/29/2025 11:57:58 am
The hiking trail from the loj to marcy dam was "skiable" as of 1/25. Still a bit thin in spots but I imagine the extra incoming snow will help a lot. The dam to avalanche camp was good with still only a few rocks showing. Avalanche pass was in great condition.
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![]() UPCOMING EVENTS
02/07-02/09: Mountainfest hosted by The Mountaineer 02/15: Avalanche Pass & Lake Colden Ski Tour 03/08: Social at the Monday-Tuesday Grill Trail Conditions 101Trail condition reports are posted frequently during the ski season. The Adirondack backcountry can be a hard place to predict with weather and trail conditions that often change rapidly. We can't offer the same detailed descriptions of trail conditions as groomed nordic centers. Archives
January 2025
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